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Flowers, Herbie (19th May 1938-5th September 2024)

He was a bass guitarist, musician and composer born Brian Keith Flowers in Isleworth, Middlesex and known for his session bass playing for stars including Elton John , David Bowie, Harry Nilsson, Lou Reed, Frank Sinatra, George Harrison, Paul McCartney , Tom Jones, David Essex and many others.

Notable songs that he appeared on are “Space Oddity” and “Walk on the Wild Side” as well as his performance on the albums Tumbleweed Connection by Elton John and Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds.  He was also known for his bass line on Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side”.

In the 1970s he became a member of CCS who had hits including “Tap Turns on the Water” and Blue Mink, who were successful with “Melting Pot”.  He was a co-founder of the band Sky, and after they split up in 1990 he concentrated on jazz.  He released the album Plant Life as a solo artist before joining the band T. Rex in 1977.

As a songwriter he composed the No. 1 UK chart hit “Grandad” which was performed by Clive Dunn.

The countless number of albums he performed on are far too many to mention here, but a few of them include his own Bass Guitar and Percussion, Plant Life, A Little Potty and Herbie’s Stuff as well as Eleven Sides of Baker by Ginger Baker, Schizophonia/Tarot Suite by Mike Batt, Hit Making Sound by Blue Mink, Solid Gold Rapid Action by Marc Bolan & T. Rex, David Live by David Bowie, 43 Minutes by Sam Brown, Whole Lotta Love by CCS, Gold by Roger Daltrey, Imperial Wizard by David Essex, The Bride Stripped Bare by Bryan Ferry, Poetic Justice by Steve Harley, One of Those Days in England by Roy Harper, Brainwashed by George Harrison, Nightflight by Justin Hayward, Madman Across the Water by Elton John, Symphonic Rock: British Invasion Vol. 1 and by the London Symphony Orchestra, Famous Last Words by MPure McCartney by Paul McCartney, Candles in the Rain by Melanie, Time Traveller by The Moody Blues, Olivia Newton John by Olivia Newton John, Nilsson Schmilsson by Harry Nilsson, Transformer by Lou Reed, 75 by 75 by Cliff Richard,  Ringing Applause by BA Robertson, Hooked on Classics by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Nothing Comes Easy by Sandie Shaw, Anthology by Sky, The Best Of… by Slik, Stop & Smell the Roses by Ringo Starr, On the Road To Find Out by Cat Stevens, War of the Worlds: The New Generation by Jeff Wayne, The Guitarist: The Complete Columbia Collection by John Williams and the soundtrack of The Long Good Friday and Trainspotting.

In 2009 he was the founder of Shoreham Singers-by-Sea community choir and in 2010 he founded the Ditchling Singers.

He died in September 2024 when he was 86 years old.

Paul McCartney Recordings
No More Lonely Nights (Ballad) (Paul McCartney )
No More Lonely Nights (Playout Version) (Paul McCartney )

Here he is playing bass with Sky on “Toccata”…

Sources:

  1. http://www.herbieflowers.com/
  2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbie_Flowers
  3. www.loadofold.com/boots/flowers.html
  4. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/herbie-flowers-mn0000677415/biography
  5. https://www.discogs.com/artist/144954-Herbie-Flowers